Tips for Bathing, Brushing, and More When You Have Arthritis

Use the following tips to make grooming easier.

Have a handyperson or family member install bars on the shower or tub walls to make getting in and out of the bath easier.
Use a bath mat or place nonskid tape on the bottom of the tub or shower stall to prevent you from slipping or falling. Either could lead to a joint injury.
If you can't stand for long periods of time, install a bath bench that has suction cups on the bottom of the legs to keep it in place. Also buy a showerhead that moves up and down on a rod.
Use a soap on a rope so that you can keep the soap handy at all times and avoid having to bend over to find soap that's slipped from your hands.
Use a back scrubber brush or a sponge on a long handle to make reaching easier.
Buy a shower caddy so that shampoo and conditioner are within easy reach.

Use an electric razor or a cream depilatory to make shaving easier. Women may also want to use the bath bench for shaving.

Buy combs and hairbrushes with large handles to make combing hair easier.
Use an electric toothbrush rather than a manual one so you don't have to move painful wrists.
Use the heel of your hand to squeeze toothpaste from a tube or to press on a toothpaste pump or when you use hair spray or deodorant.

Also try these miscellaneous tips:

Install a raised toilet seat. These are 3 to 5 inches higher than standard ones. You can also install an armrest unit next to the toilet, which will make sitting and getting up easier.
Purchase a lotion applicator towel at your local bed and bath shop. These towels work much like back scrubber brushes and make it easier to apply moisturizing lotion to hard-to-reach places.
Wear a terry cloth robe after bathing. It will help you dry off without the twisting and turning of towel drying.

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